Police and businesses partner for violence-free weekend

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Nightclubs closed early and Waffle House locked its doors.

After a week that seemed to involve a shooting almost every other day, many across Clarksville worried that Friday or Saturday night could bring more bloodshed. Some even spread rumors about a “purge” that would leave anyone out after dark game to be murdered.

But working with businesses, Clarksville Police worked to make it a quiet weekend. And for the most part, it was.

“We didn’t have anything like everybody thought we would,” said Clarksville Police Chief Al Ansley. “It was very quiet, considering.”

A bloody week

Two people were killed and six were injured in four separate shootings over the span of five days last week. Police are still investigating the crimes. So far, there has been only one arrest — that involved a driver who intentionally interfered with police while they chased a suspect in a drive-by shooting Wednesday night, Ansley said.

Four people were injured Wednesday when the driver of a Ford F-150 opened fire on a car and home on Treeland Drive. The truck and a white car sped away toward Trenton Road.

Ansley said Monday that police were chasing a suspect when another vehicle intentionally blocked them. That driver was arrested in Guthrie, Kentucky, and will face felony charges when extradited back to Tennessee, Ansley said. The suspect vehicle was not caught.

Just four hours before that shooting, two men were injured after what appeared to be a shootout between two cars on Edmondson Ferry Road.

In both shootings Wednesday, the injuries were not life threatening.

But two other men were not as lucky.

On Aug. 10, Clarksville police were called to a Fort Campbell Boulevard Waffle House where Andre Mitchell, 27, of Clarksville was found dead in the backseat of a vehicle. At about the same time, Oak Grove Police responded to a call of shots fired at Club Gravity and found shell casings in the area.

On Thursday, 24-year-old Fran Daniel Caratini of Clarksville was found shot to death behind a Chapel Street apartment in the New Providence area.

Fighting rumors and crime

Ansley said police worked with local businesses where people congregate late at night and many voluntarily closed early over the weekend.

The shootings — and rumors of a “purge” — were enough to put many on edge. E-911 fielded 32 call from people worried about a “purge” and 13 calls from people worried about a rumored gang killing spree. “The Purge” is a movie about a government-endorsed day where, for 12 hours, all crime, including murder, is legal. A teen in another state allegedly started the rumor as a joke, and it was passed around through social media. Some in Clarksville posted Facebook messages urging everyone to stay inside after dark Friday to avoid getting killed.

“I was hearing (rumors) of everything, from a ‘purge’ to anything you can think of,” Ansley said.

There was still talk of the “purge” that never materialized across downtown Monday morning. The Montgomery County Jail fielded phone calls from worried citizens over the weekend too.

But a much greater threat was possible retaliation or new shootings connected to those from last week.

Ansley said Clarksville police work daily to track crimes across the city and address problems. Last week, that led them to talk to businesses about closing early over the weekend.

And many did, from nightclubs, to service stations and restaurants.

All four Waffle Houses in Clarksville closed at midnight Friday and Saturday. The eatery is usually open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Brad Hallford, a grill operator at the Riverside Drive Waffle House, said the measure made employees feel safer.

“With all the shootings going down, you never know,” what could happen, he said Monday. “It’s pretty scary with all that going on.”

Waffle House is popular with people leaving clubs and bars late at night because it’s open 24 hours. The restaurants have armed guards on weekend nights, because people can get out of hand after drinking, Hallford said.

Ansley said he appreciated the businesses that partnered with Clarkville police to make the weekend a quiet one. He did not name which businesses closed early but said he appreciated their help. This wasn’t the first time police have asked businesses to consider closing early, and he wants to preserve the good relationship police have with them.

“We want to keep the peace,” Ansley said. “Sometimes it’s all about having partnerships in the community.”

4-year-old killed in accident

There was one death related to firearms over the weekend, but it wasn’t related to drive-by shootings or enemies with guns.

A 4-year-old boy died Sunday after accidentally shooting himself in the chest with a loaded gun at his Clarksville home.

His identity and details of the shooting were not available Monday. More information will be released after his kin have been notified, said CPD spokeswoman Natalie Hall.